Accumulator



Jan. 25, gfg.

M. J. PHILLIPS l AGCUMULATOR Filed Jan. 13. 1941 Y Patented Jan: 25,

s 'rrss PATENT t ortica ACCUM'ULATGR llricliaelI J; Phillips, Cleveland, (lhio, assigner to Pesco Products'Co., a corporation of 0h10 Application January 13, 1941, Serial No. 374,189

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 133530)) This invention relates to pressure containers built of a plurality of hollow sections and particularly to the type wherein a flexible diaphragm is held about th periphery thereof between the ioining edges of the sections for dividing the container housing into two chambers one of which is adapted to receive air under pressure and the other uid such as oil under pressure.

It is an'object of this invention to provide an improved form of joining means between the two sections of a plural section housing and a diaphragm held therebetween, whereby to effect infcreased operating eiliciency, long life and ready assembly and disassembly.

It is an object to provide an arrangement of the above type which is effective to prevent the respective mediums contained on the opposite sides of the diaphragm from leaking therearound either into contact with each other or from making an exit to the surrounding atmosphere.

Other and more specic objects, Vadvantages and uses of my invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken together with the accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement of a pressure accumulator embodying a preferred form of my invention; and

Fig. 2 is an axial broken-away cross-section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the details of a preferred embodiment of my invention. l

Referring in greater detail to the figures of the drawing, an accumulator embodying a preferred form of my invention is indicated generally at I and comprises a rst hollow hemispherical housing section II and a second such section I2 fastened together and conning therebetween a diaphragm I3 functioning to' divide the interior into a first chamber I4 and a second chamber I5. The upper chamber I4 is adapted to contain :duid such as air under pressure introduced through valve assembly I6, while the lowerchamber I5 is adapted to receive an accumulation of fluid such as oil under pressure, this fluid being introduced through inlet port I1. y

The usual .function of chamber I5 is to hold a reserve volume of iiuid under pressures of the order of a thousand (1000) pounds per square inch, which iiuid must be immediately available for use in operating various uid pressure responsive instrumentalities such for example as the many devices on an aircraft.

It will be readily appreciated that the severe conditions under which this assembly must operate require specially constructed and eilicient means connecting the housing sections together and holding the periphery of the' diaphragm therebetween. 0f very great importance in this connection is the provision of an arrangement for effectively and eiliciently holding the periphery of the diaphragm including both avoiding destructive applications of force thereto and effecting the necessary seal against the passage thereby of the confined fluids. For example, it has been found that all arrangements of means for tightly clamping the periphery of the diaphragm are completely ineffective due tothe destructive effects of the distortion produced in the flexible material.

Generally speaking, I have found that the best results are obtained by forming the opposed peripheral portion of the accumulator sections to define l a mouth-like cavity having a closely spaced pair of lips providing for the passage therebetween of the diaphragm which in turn is formed with an enlarged peripheral rim received within the mouth-like cavity and provided with uid responsive sealing means engaging the interior walls of the mouth-like cavity to prevent the passage thereby of the confined fluids. The outer, wall portion opposite the back of vsaid mouth-like cavity is preferably threaded for complementary cooperation with an overlapping threaded wall portion of the adjacent housing section for the purpose of holding the sections together.

In the preferred embodiment disclosed the upper housing section I I is formed with an enlarged Yterminal portion 20 having a first tubular terminal Wall 2| extending therefrom and an upper lip defining wall 22 of shorter length than said first Wall, and spaced radially inwardly therefrom to define with said -first wall the upper and back portion of a mouth-like cavity for the reception of a diaphragm as will appear. Wall 2| is formed externally thereof with threads 23 for cooperation with complementary threads 24 j formed on the inner periphery-of over-lapping -wall 2.5 extending from enlarged terminal portion 26 of lower housing section vI2. Also extend v ing from terminal portion 26 is a lower lip defining wall portion 21 in turn dening with the opposite surface of wall 2| the lower portion of said mouth-like cavity, the upper extremity of wall 21 being spaced from the lower extremity of wall 22 a distance of the order of the thickness of the main body'portion of the diaphragm to be received therebetween.

Diaphragm I3 is positioned with the outer formed at the periphery thereof with an enlarged generally cross-section rim portion 30, positioned with the mouth-like cavity. 'I'his enlarged rim portion is preferably of a general rectangular cross-section', the major axis of the rectangle extending generally parallel to the normal, vertical or major axis :n of the accumulator and of the diaphragm, the periphery of the latter joining the rectangular cross-section at a position intermediate the extremities thereof thus giving the maximum reenforcing and retaining function to the rim portion. One side of the rim, preferably that adjacent the upper chamber |4, usually containing air under pressure, is formed with a pair of axially extending spaced flexible lips 3| arranged to be initially spread into engagement with the adjacent surfaces of walls 2l and 22 by means of a spreading flange a extending from enlarged terminal portion`20, ,these lips being responsive to fluid pressure leaking into contact therewith from chamber I4 to force the same tightly against the adjacent surfaces of walls 2| and '22. The opposite side' of rim30 is formed with a reduced cross-section terminal ange 32 and is arranged to be embraced by a pairof spaced flexible lips 33 of an auxiliary sealing ring 34 .located in the lower portion of the mouth-like cavity, these lips being initially spread into contact withthe adjacent surfaces of walls 2| and 21 by the reduced section flange 32 but being additionally responsive to such fluid pressure as leaks into contact therewith -for forcing the sameinto'tight enrangement of holding means even after a long period of usage.

For supporting the accumulator assembly Il, as for example on an aircraft with which the same is to be associated, I have found it desir- .able to position a flat washer-like ring 33 between the end of wall and a complementary shoulder on terminal portion 2|! additionally securing the same in place by means of pins 31.

The accumulator i0 will be associated with the4 other conventional equipment forming no part of the present invention and which will include the necessary fluid supply and pumping means for maintaining the same charged connected thereto through inlet 'ports I1.

While I have disclosed my invention in connection with a specific embodiment thereof this has been by way of illustration rather. than by way of limitation and it is my intention that the invention be construed in terms of the appended claims which should be given a scope as broadas the prior art will permit.

I claim:

1. In a pressure accumulator of the type including 'a plural hollow section housing divided into two chambers by a flexible diaphragm the periphery of which is held between said sections, sealing means effective to prevent a first fluid contained in one of said chambers and a second ga'gement with the adjacent surfaces of said v walls.

To still further improve the sealed engage.-

' ment between the peripheral rim portion of the diaphragm and the Wall 2|, I vhave formed a plurality of vertically spaced generally triangular ring-like protuberances 35 on the rim, which protuberances are received in complementarily formed recesses in the adjacent surface of wall 2|.

I have found that any air which tends to leak around depending lip 22 and into a position between ilexible lips 3| is effective to so tightly press the same against the adjacent surfaces of walls 2| and 22 that no leakage of air about the diaphragm i3 normally results. Furthermore, with the provision of the above described auxiliary ring seal 34 any oil that succeeds in leaking around lower lip 21 and into a position between the lips of auxiliary sealing lips 33 of auxiliary sealing ring 34 as well as any air that may succeed in passing around lips 3| and protuberances p 35 will be effective to so. completely force lips 33 into engagement with the adjacent surfaces of walls 2| and 21 that no resultant leakage occurs. This arrangement of seal construction and holding means for the periphery of the diaphragm is so'very effective that I have been unable to detect any leakage of air from` chamber i4 into contact with theoil in chamber I5 or the leakage of either air or oil out of the accumulator past threads 23 and 24, nor have I been able to detect any appreciable wear adjacent the periphery of the diaphragm by virtue of this arfiuid contained in the other of said chambers from leaking around the periphery of said diaphragm either into contact with each other or externally of said housing, said means comprising a mouth-like recess formed .between the adjacent portions of said housingsections for receiving the peripheral portion of said diaphragm, said mouth including a roof and upper lip portions formed in a rst one of said housing sections, and a rbase and lower lip portion formed in the other of said housing sections, said lips being opposed to each other and spaced apart a distance of-the order of the thickness of the body portion of said diaphragm, `said diaphragm extending between said lips into said mouth and being' particularly characterized by the formation at the periphery thereof and within said mouth of a thickened rim having a generally rectangular cross-section, the major axis of said rectangle being generally parallel to the major axis of said diaphragm, one end portion of said rectangu1ar.crosssection rim terminating in a pair of axially extending flexible lips adapted to respond to fluid pressure for holding the same against the adjacent wall of said mouth, the other end portion of said rim terminating in an axially extending flange of less thickness than said rectangular rim, a separate flexible sealing ring received in opposed relation to said flange, said sealing ring being formed with an axially facing channel defined in part by a second pair of ilexible lips, said flange portion of said rim being received in said seal ring channel and functioning to spread said lipsl into initial engagement with the adjacent walls of said mouth.

2. In a pressure accumulator of the type including a pair of opposed hollow housing sections divided into a pair of chambers by a flexible diaphra-gm partition the periphery of which is held between the opposed portions of said housing sections, said arrangement being particularly characterized by the formation between said sections of a recessed mouth-like channel for the reception of the peripheral portion of said diaphragm, said mouth comprising a roof and upper lip portions formed in a ilrst housing section, and a base and lower lip portions formed in the opposed housing section, said diaphragm being passed between said -lips and formed at the periphery thereof within said mouth with an enlarged rim portion, said lips of said mouth being spaced apart a distance of the order of the thickness of said diaphragm adjacent said enlarged rim portion, said rim being in the form of axially oppositely extending ilanges, a first one of said anges terminating in a pair of axially extending flexible lips, a protuberant ange extending from the inner peripheral portion of said mouth to a position between said flexible lips for initially spreading the same into engagement with the surrounding Walls of said mouth, said oppositely extending diaphragm ange terminating ina second centrally located auxiliary ange of reduced cross-section, a supplemental flexible seal ring received in said mouth, said supplemental seal ring being formed With a second pair of axially extending iiexible lips, said auxiliary reduced cross-section ange being received between said lips and functioning to initially spread the same apart into initial engagement with the adjacent walls oi' said mouth.

3. In a pressure accumulator of the type including a pair of opposed hollow housing sections the space therebetween being divided into a pair of chambers by a flexible diaphragm partition the periphery of which is held between the opposed portions of said housing sections, each of said housing sections being formed with a plurality of concentric radially spaced terminal walls, the outermost ones of said walls overlapping and being complementarily threaded for holding said sections together, the innermost pair of said walls being shorter than said outer walls and opposed and separated by a distance of the order of the thickness ofv said diaphragm to thus dene with the inner lone of said first-named pair of overlapping walls a mouth-like cavity for reception of the periphery of said diaphragm passing between said opposed inner walls and into said mouth-like cavity, said diaphragm periphery within said mouth being enlarged to form an elongated cross-section rim portion, the major axis of said elongation being generally parallel to the major axis of said diaphragm, a rst side of said rim having a pair of spaced flexible fluid responsive lips the exterior portion of which extend generally parallel to and engage the adjacent portions of said concentric walls, the other side of said rim terminating in a flange of reduced cross-section, and an auxiliary seal ring formed with a pair of spaced ilexible lips ernbracing said reduced ange and adapted to be spread apart thereby for eiecting initial engagement of said last named lips with the adjacent for the reception of the peripheral portion of said diaphragm, said mouth comprising a roof and upper lip portions formed in a first housing section, and a base and. lower lip portions formed in the opposed housing section, said diaphragm being passed between said lips and formed at the periphery thereof within said mouth with an enlarged rim portion, said lips of said mouth being spaced apart a distance of the order of the thickness of said diaphragm adjacent said enlarged rim portion and receiving said diaphragm snugly therebetween but not substantially compressing the same, said rim being in the form of axially oppositely extending ilanges, one of said flanges terminating in a pair of fork-like spaced ilexible lips each of less cross section area lthan said flanges, said lips being responsive to uid pressurey for urging the same into sealing relation with the e opposed surface of said mouth, said -arrangement being further particularly characterized by the location of a spreading flange or ring extending from the inner peripheral portion of said mouth and engaging between said lips for spreading the same apart toeffect the. initial engagement of said lips with said adjacent surface for effecting a seal.

lVHCHAEL J. PHILLIPS. 

